How North Korean magazines undermined 1980's Soviet propaganda

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How North Korean magazines undermined 1980’s Soviet propaganda

The magazines, a throwback to old-school Stalinism, were widely derided by Soviet dissidents

Benjamin R. Young December 8, 2016

How North Korean magazines undermined 1980’s Soviet propaganda

Red Square, Moscow, early 1980s - Ceri C - Creative Commons

Imagine it is 1988 in Moscow and you are waiting to get your haircut at the local barbershop. While waiting, you browse through the magazines on the nearby table. These magazines consist of the typical Soviet propaganda drivel but one magazine, with its vibrant cover photo of a smiling Asian peasant, sticks out. You pick up the magazine, titled “Korea,” and begin to scroll through the pages.

You soon realize that this magazine is from North Korea and it is even more outlandish and bizarre than Soviet propaganda.

About the Author

Benjamin R. Young

Benjamin R. Young is an Assistant Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). He is the author of Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World (Stanford University Press, 2021). He received his Ph.D. from The George Washington University in 2018. He has previously taught at the U.S. Naval War College and Dakota State University. He has published peer-reviewed articles on North Korean history and politics in a number of scholarly journals and is a regular contributor to NK News.

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